Web Wednesdays: How To Keep Your WordPress Website Secure

Website security is significant for any business and is a topic which every website owner needs to address. As a business you should take precautions to protect your brand’s image and provide assurances to customers. Considering the likes of Yahoo, eBay and Facebook have encountered data breaches over the years, it’s obvious that no matter how large or small your business is, by having security flaws in your WordPress website it will endanger your business and customers.

In today’s Web Wednesdays we share a handy list of practical techniques to better protect your WordPress website in 2019. By following these steps you will certainly discourage attacks and decrease the dangers of getting hacked. Let’s get on with it!

The Key Steps:

1. Install trusted security plugins
2. Enforce strong passwords for all users
3. Invest in a secure hosting package
4. Be mindful of where login details are stored
5. Use Google ReCaptcha on the login form

A More Thorough Look:

One of the simplest techniques to drastically transform the protection of your WordPress website is to install a reputable security plugin. Underneath this section, we have shared 2 plugins, which we certainly recommend adding either one onto your WordPress website. Both of these incredible plugins have millions of active installations combined and are desirable solutions to help intensify the security of your WordPress website.

These plugins guard your website in several ways by introducing brute force attack protection, malware scanning tools, file detection monitors, adjusting well-known WordPress security vulnerabilities and blocking malicious traffic. Be sure to check these plugins out!

• iThemes Security by iThemes
• Wordfence Security by Wordfence

It’s essential to ensure that passwords for all WordPress users are strong and totally unique. This elevates the protection of your website by preventing automated scripts (bots) from experimenting with obvious passwords, such as “123456”. By introducing security plugins such as iThemes Security, you can demand users pick a strong password when creating an account.

It’s also worth noting that it’s beneficial to swerve away from employing usernames such as “Admin” for administrators. This is a common username which presents hackers with a key part of your website’s identity which will assist them in hacking your website, especially if you’ve also chosen a very simplistic password as well.

3. Invest in a Secure Hosting Package:

It’s necessary to invest in fast and robust servers that can efficiently handle your requirements and provide a secure environment for your website. When looking for reputable hosting providers, it can be daunting determining which one to choose because of there being so many, however choosing a UK based provide with a great reputation would be the best place to start.

At Success Local, we also offer hosting packages which include multiple layers of security, including firewalls, brute force detection, malware scans, Let’s Encrypt SSL and much more. Whichever hosting provider you end up choosing, just be sure it offers the latest in server security and invest in an SSL certificate.

4. Be Mindful of Where Login Details are Stored:

By insecurely storing the passwords to your website, it invites all manners of trouble by presenting an easy opportunity for anyone to access your website. You can utilise password managers, such as Dashlane, LastPass or Keeper to store your passwords online and in encrypted formats, making password storage concerns (and also forgetting passwords!) a thing of the past. By simply storing your WordPress passwords on these password managers rather than insecurely copying passwords into unsafe files on your computer or using sticky notes deposited on your desk, you will assuredly become a much more protected business.

5. Use Google ReCaptcha On The Login Form:

Not familiar with the phrase “Google ReCaptcha”? You’ll have unquestionably come across this previously when browsing websites across the internet. Captchas have been around for years and have continuously evolved to better defend against the ever-increasingly intelligent bots who you don’t want reaching particular systems/features.

Google ReCaptcha is a technique to confirm you’re not an automated script and is represented by Google as “Tough on bots, easy on humans”. Although most commonly found on contact forms to prevent spam being sent, you can also introduce it onto your WordPress login screen to protect your WordPress website. We have provided a plugin below which you can install on any WordPress website to immediately implement more dependable security.

• Login No Captcha reCATPCHA by Robert Peake

In Conclusion:

The security measures covered within this article will unquestionably help any business build a more robust and safer website, whilst reducing the risks of security threats. If you loved this article, then please check out last weeks Web Wednesdays concerning Website Security Disasters. To find out more about WordPress security please feel free to give our team a call today to see how we can help your business.

Be sure to also watch closely for next week’s Web Wednesdays security-based article!